Oil system heating for aircraft gas turbines

Abstract

An oil pre-heating apparatus for an aircraft gas turbine has a suction line 2 connectable to an oil tank 1 of an aircraft gas turbine, with a heat source 3 connected to the suction line 2 and operated independently of the aircraft and with a return line 4 connected to the heat source 3 and connectable to the oil tank 1.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oil pre-heating apparatus for an aircraft gas turbine, comprising:
 a suction line connectable to an oil tank of an aircraft gas turbine; 
 a heat source connected to the suction line, positioned externally of the aircraft and operated independently of the aircraft; and 
 a return line connected to the heat source and connectable to the oil tank; 
 wherein the heat source is selectively connectable to the oil tank for pre-heating oil in the oil tank and selectively disconnectable from the oil tank to be separated from the aircraft when the oil in the oil tank has been pre-heated; 
 wherein the suction line has an end portion for connection to the oil tank and the return line has an end portion for connection to the oil tank, and the end portions of the suction line and return line are positioned adjacent each other and connected together for simultaneous insertion into and removal from the oil tank through a single oil port of the oil tank. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a pump arranged in at least one of the suction line and the return line. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , and further comprising a storage tank arranged in at least one of the suction line and the return line. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , and further comprising a temperature regulating device. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a storage tank arranged in at least one of the suction line and the return line. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a temperature regulating device. 
     
     
       7. An oil pre-heating method for aircraft gas turbines, comprising:
 removing oil from an oil tank associated with an aircraft gas turbine; 
 heating the oil with a heat source external to the aircraft; and 
 returning the oil to the oil tank; 
 selectively connecting the heat source to the oil tank for heating the oil and selectively disconnecting the heat source from the oil tank to separate the heat source from the aircraft when the oil has been heated; 
 providing a suction line with an end portion for connection to the oil tank and a return line with an end portion for connection to the oil tank, and connecting the end portions of the suction line and return line in a position adjacent each other and connected together for simultaneous insertion into and removal from the oil tank through a common oil port of the oil tank. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , and further comprising returning the oil to the oil tank at a position separated from the removal point. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , and further comprising removing the oil via an oil filler port and returning the oil via the oil filler port. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , and further comprising removing the oil via an oil drain port and returning the oil via the oil drain port. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , and further comprising regulating a temperature of the oil. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , and further comprising removing the oil via an oil filler port and returning the oil via the oil filler port. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , and further comprising removing the oil via an oil drain port and returning the oil via the oil drain port. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 7 , and further comprising regulating a temperature of the oil. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 7 , and further comprising rotating the aircraft gas turbine to flush lines of an oil supply system with heated oil to warm at least one of the oil supply system and an accessory. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , and further comprising rotating the aircraft gas turbine to flush lines of an oil supply system with heated oil to warm at least one of the oil supply system and an accessory.